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“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”
I Thessalonians 4:13
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:13
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
I Peter 3:15
Introduction:
1. Hopelessness is an evil blight and curse on men; hope is a great gift from God for your joy and peace.
2. Tonight you have one of several thoughts about the future – despair, delusions, or hope. Which is it?
3. A Christian has the word of God to save him from despair and delusions and to give him much hope.
4. A few have shown God and us that you have sustaining hope for victory over terrible circumstances.
5. Life without hope is not worth living, but the Lord, His word, and this church can increase your hope.
What is Hope?
A. The confidence and expectation that a thing desired will be obtained sometime in the future.
1. Hope = expectation of a desire (Psalm 10:28; 11:7; 13:12; Philippians 1:20).
2. Hope for something not desired is dead; desire for something not expected is painful.
3. If you already have something, then hope cannot be exercised toward it (Rom 8:24-25).
B. How does hope differ from faith? We do believe they are separate, but yet closely connected.
1. Faith is confidence in God and His word – Hope is the patient waiting for future things.
2. Faith gives life and reason to hope – faith is the substance of things hoped for (Heb 11:1).
C. Hope is not baseless, or it is only fantasy and wishful thinking: it is not delusional optimism.
1. Hope plans on God’s promises coming to pass, regardless of circumstances or doubts.
2. Hope expects deliverance by God’s goodness, regardless of circumstances or doubts.
3. Hope is based in God and His character and His words (Psalm 33:22; 38:15; 39:7; 62:5;
71:5; 130:5,7; 131:3; 146:5; Jeremiah 14:8; 17:13,17; 50:7; Joel 3:16).
4. Hope is reasonable and can be defined and explained by those truly having it (I Pet 3:15).
D. It is one of the great graces of Christianity, given by God to His elect people (I Cor 13:13).
E. The natural man does not have all or any of these glorious gifts of the Holy Spirit to the elect.
F. It is remembering God is the business of reversal of fortune, both now and in a time to come.
G. If the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, how much more a saint with hope (Pr 18:14)!
What is Hopelessness?
A. Hopelessness is belief that nothing will do any good and the future is full of pain and trouble.
B. Hopelessness is the soul-destroying resignation that there is no relief from within or without.
C. It is a great curse, no matter the situation. If expectations fail, then quitting is the alternative.
D. The wicked put their trust in gold and wealth, which is to deny God above (Job 31:14-18);
and it cannot do them any good in the real matters of life (Psalm 49:6-14).
E. There is no hope after death, though there may be for trees cut down and other things with
opportunity or potential still remaining (Job 14:7-12,18-22; Ecclesiastes 9:4; Isaiah 38:18).
What are examples of Hope?
A. Abraham hoped against hope that he might be the father of Isaac in his old age (Rom 4:18).
B. We may assume Joseph had hope in Egypt, or he would not have obeyed the Lord as he did.
C. David at Ziklag encouraged himself in the Lord, which was to take hope (I Samuel 30:1-6).
D. David and Bathsheba lost a sick baby, but they gained Solomon instead (II Sam 12:15-25).
E. David was forced by Absalom to flee Jerusalem, but he hoped to return (II Sam 15:23-26).
F. Manasseh was in prison for great sins, but he took hope of forgiveness (II Chron 33:12-13).
G. Job was hopeless at times, but he was full of hope of a future resurrection (Job 19:23-27).
H. Hezekiah on his deathbed took hope in the mercy of God for 15 more years (Isaiah 38:1-8).
I. Even under chastening there is hope, because God is ever merciful (Jer 31:17; Lam 3:18-36).
J. God gave Israel a door of hope for their repentance as a regathered nation (Hosea 2:15).
K. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus should build our hope anyone else (Acts 9:10-14; 26:9).
L. Paul had a confident expectation of a great reward for his ministerial labors (Phil 1:20).
M. Jesus Christ was made to hope while nursing, as God graciously favored Him (Psalm 22:9).
N. He saw with great hope the joy set before Him and despised the shameful cross (Heb 12:1-2).
O. The body of Jesus Christ rested in the grave in hope of His resurrection (Ps 16:9; Acts 2:26).
P. Hope is even of value at death, because the righteous have good things coming (Pr 14:32).